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Why are you so annoying today, everything you do pisses me off. You make me gag in a bad way, you walk into the room and instantly spoil my mood. I hate you. Your glasses are noticeably dirty. That shirt makes you look like an idiot, your tie is too tight and too loose at the same time. Too bright, tacky, that colour doesn’t suit you. These are just some of the things that go through Regulus’ mind as he silently judges people from afar. A majority of them are directed towards his brother and his friend group.

It’s the beginning of October and the scenery has changed a lot, the colours are more oranges and browns. Leaves on trees are darkening, some starting to fall already. A slight chill in the air, and the people seem giddy about the season's late approach. Barty was wearing a black turtleneck with some dark brown slacks, Evan in a cream-colored crewneck that blended nicely with his skin tone, and a pair of slacks with a brand new soup stain from lunch. The two of them effortlessly drawing attention from neighbouring students. 

Regulus was in a thin black long-sleeve, pulling on the cuffs to cover his hands, it was cold and he left his sweater in the common room. His lips were a purplish pink color, both from the cold and just his natural tone. Regulus tried talking to Barty about where he was but he wouldn’t budge, deciding to just let it go. Resting his head on his palm, he looked all over the dining hall making silent notes about everyone he laid his eyes on.

Marlene Mckinnon had her hair in pigtails, grass sticking out. Probably from rolling around in the leaves outside. Benny Diggory had a neon yellow sweater on with purple trousers, a disgusting combination. Cousin Bella was sitting on the Ravenclaw table and talking to some seventh-years. Beside her, he noticed Pandora sewing little flowers on the edges of her skirt, Regulus hid a small smile behind his hand. That smile quickly went away as he heard a shout from James Potter, hollering at Sirius and encouraging whatever behaviour that was most likely redundant. James’ hair was a mess, his glasses were crooked on his face, cheeks tinted pink from excitement. 

After realising he was looking a little longer than normal, Regulus looked over at Evan and Barty, who were still in deep conversation with people around them. He scribbled on a napkin and tugged on Evan’s sleeve, stuffing the paper in his hand. 

cold. going back to the dorm

Evan’s attention quickly switched from his peers to his friend. Regulus stood up as Evan opened the napkin, looking up quickly after he stood.

“Do you want me to go with you? C’mon Barty let's go,” Evan stood too fast and spilled his pumpkin juice, groaning in annoyance.

“You two go on, I’ve gotta do a few things.” Short, uninformative, thanks, Barty.

It was obvious that this annoyed Evan even more. Regulus gave Evan a quick look and started walking away. Whatever was going on Regulus didn’t want to be freezing his arse off while he dealt with it. A minute or two passed before Evan followed behind him, Regulus gave him another look, do you wanna talk about it? Evan shook his head and they walked in silence.

As soon as they entered the common room, Regulus headed straight for the armchair that held his sweater. Pulling it over himself and sighing in satisfaction, it was warming up by the small dying fire. Evan paid no mind to this and waited for Regulus to go with him to their room. Evan quickly changed out of his dirty clothes and put on a light layer before laying on Regulus’ bed. 

Regulus sat in the corner where the small piano was, and cracked his fingers before settling them on the keys. Playing a slow sympathetic melody, carrying it into a piece he was working on. 

“How do you always do that?”

He paused and gave his friend a questioning look.

“You always know what to play to perfectly express whatever’s going on, it just fits.”

Regulus just shrugs and goes back to playing, Evan attempting to him along. It was relaxing, being able to let his guard down a bit without having to worry about anything in the moment. 

~~~

They had stayed in the dorm for the next few hours, skipping their afternoon classes. Barty’s still out, doing what? They don’t know. Evan had fallen asleep not too long ago, still on Regulus’ bed and clutching his stuffed lion. 

His stuffed lion. Sirius got it for him on his eighth birthday, he left for the weekend to visit Uncle Alphard, Regulus wanted to go but mother wouldn’t allow both of them. When he came back the day after Regulus’ birthday, he apologised for missing it and that night he dug out the lion from the bottom of his trunk. 

“Happy birthday Reggie, get it? because you’re in the leo constellation, leo equals lion so viola!”

Regulus wanted to cry. He thought Sirius had forgotten his birthday and that’s why he left, but no he left so he could get him a stupid stuffed animal. 

“Tu es tellement stupide,” he gave Sirius a side-hug, “thank you.”

And now, that same lion cuddled up with one of his best mates. It’s seen just as much, carries mountains and mountains of trauma and emotions. 

Regulus couldn’t get rid of it, trust me, he tried. His mother even took it from him about a month after Sirius left, grow up she said. But Kreacher found it after a day, apparently she didn’t do a very good job. It felt childish, embarrassing to sleep with a stuffed animal but Regulus didn’t care. 

It wasn’t just his anymore, he wanted to be selfish and keep it to himself but all of his friends found a hint of likeness towards the plush animal. Pandora knitted a christmas sweater for it, Barty washed it after Regulus cried so many tears into it. Evan just likes a cuddle-buddy. But of course at the end of the day it’s with Regulus. In the morning it’s with Regulus, sits on his bed when everyone’s out of the dorm. 

When Evan wakes from his nap, they make their way to dinner. Finding Barty just around the corner, walking in silence as opposed to Evan bothering with a bunch of questions. Barty had his school robe over his outfit from this morning, he looked tired. 

At dinner Regulus didn’t eat very much, had two spoonfuls of soup and a bite of bread. His eyes kept wandering around the room again, he caught a few eyes, quickly breaking away from sudden contact. Tapping his spoon against the edge of his bowl lightly to make a tune. 

Regulus saw the Mckinnon girl again, no grass in her hair this time. She was talking with Fabian and another red-head, a girl. He couldn’t tell who from the back of their head but after a minute or two the volume in the dining hall increased as students caught up with their peers, becoming a more comfortable atmosphere. 

A shiver crawled up his spine, what is it about this season?